The US House of Representatives absolutely approved the bill to help Taiwan become an observer at WHO

The US House of Representatives passed a bill calling on the State Department to make a plan to help Taiwan regain its observer status at the World Health Organization (WHO) – Photo: REUTERS

According to Reuters news agency, the US House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 425-0.

Since the US Senate passed this bill last August, the draft will be sent directly to the White House.

Congress said it expected President Joe Biden to sign the bill into law.

Taiwan is excluded from most global organizations such as the WHO because of China’s objections. Beijing considers the island an inalienable part of its territory.

The new bill would require the US secretary of state to develop a strategy to help Taiwan gain observer status at the World Health Assembly, the WHO’s decision-making body.

Taiwan was stripped of its observer status in 2017.

In May 2021, Taiwan criticized the WHO for being “indifferent” to the right to protect the health of its people, after not receiving an invitation for a meeting of the World Health Assembly.

Taiwanese officials at the time said they would continue to make efforts to join the organization.

Calling for support for the bill, Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly praised Taiwan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Connolly said Taiwan has only recorded 37,000 infections despite a population of 23.5 million, and praised Taipei for sharing expertise and funding equipment to many parts of the world.

Mr. Connolly said that “Taiwan’s leadership and contribution to global health security” is an example of why the island must become part of the “common public health discussion”.